Kroes: Satellite key to 100% broadband

Kroes: Satellite key to 100% broadband

European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, recognises that satellite “can provide a great contribution to deliver the important goal of basic broadband for all” especially for the 10 million underserved households in rural and isolated areas where “wired networks, which works well for the majority, may become prohibitively expensive”.

Kroes explained that “new satellites offer downloads at 10 Megabits per second, which compares well against many of the wired ADSL speeds consumers now receive. In the years to come we may even see speeds significantly higher – a possibility that indicates satellite has a major and long-term role to play in delivering higher speed broadband.”

Kroes participated at the conference “Every European Digital”, organised by ESOA to define the way forward to achieve 100 per cent broadband coverage in Europe by 2013.

Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat and a member of ESOA’s Board, highlighted the capability of satellites to deliver triple-play services to consumers, including broadband Internet with speeds up to 10Mbps, irrespective of location. “Satellite technologies are now delivering a level of performance that make them an immediate solution for drawing more European users into the Knowledge Society. With their seamless coverage of the entire European territory they are a fast and cost-effective route to extending connectivity, especially for the many areas not addressed by terrestrial operators because of lower population density.”